GHENT, 7 September 2023 - In November 2022, PIA Group, Belgium’s fastest growing accountancy and advisory group, entered the Dutch market with the takeover of Brouwers. Today Dutch CEO Ewout Brouwers has the pleasure of announcing the first Dutch acquisitions, including a top-50 accountancy firm. From Belgium, PIA Group founder and executive chairman Steven Brouckaert looks in approval. “The Netherlands are also embracing our unique proposition in which accounting firms benefit from our scale while simultaneously preserving their local identity and entrepreneurship.”
Welcome ESJ and Cooster
The two additions to PIA Group the Netherlands are ESJ and Cooster. This means that in one fell swoop, PIA Group the Netherlands now consists of 13 branches, with a total of 320 employees. Across both countries the group totals over 60 branches and 1,200 staff.
ESJ: futureproof with PIA Group
With ESJ, PIA Group the Netherlands is taking over a top-quality, full-service top-50 accountancy firm with branches in Breda, Etten-Leur, Oosterhout, Zwijndrecht, Zevenbergen and Amsterdam. Since its foundation in 1981, ESJ has enjoyed steady growth, gradually developing into an overall adviser for SMEs and multinationals alike. “What we found so appealing in ESJ is that throughout their growth journey, they have consistently prioritised quality while continuing to target advisory-oriented clients”, Ewout Brouwers emphasises. “Now we are happy to assist ESJ with the 2.0 chapter of their own growth journey.”
Cooster cherishes PIA Group
The second office to join PIA Group is Cooster, an accountancy firm with branches in Barneveld and Bilthoven. The name (pronounced phonetically) is a clear reference to how they approach SME entrepreneurs. “What stood out immediately was the special bond with their clients as well as their own brand of entrepreneurship”, says Ewout Brouwers. “In addition, as accountants they keep up with the times. They were also ready for the next step, but at the same time the owners of Cooster were aware they were not equipped to tackle the challenges this entails on their own. Just think of digitalisation, recruitment, ... We explained that PIA Group is uniquely suited to support them in this process. They had us over for coffee and we clicked immediately.”
PIA Group: a unique combination of scale and local strengths
Upon entering the Dutch market, PIA Group made a conscious decision to stay true to its DNA. As in Belgium, it combines the strength of local branches with the PIA shared services and a singular partnership approach. Accountancy firms that join the fold enjoy maximum support in terms of digitalisation, quality policy, recruitment and training. Meanwhile they can continue to pursue their business ventures and remain focused on their clients while keeping pace in terms of innovations.
PIA Group opens doors that remain closed to others
“Our best-of-both-worlds strategy is as unique in the Dutch market as it is in Belgium”, Steven Brouckaert emphasises. “We are often given a seat at tables that remain off-limits to the competition. Why? Dutch accountancy firm owners find the thought of handing over their life’s work to a group just as unbearable as their Belgian counterparts. When they hear that PIA Group sets up partnerships that preserve their local identity while leaving room for their own entrepreneurial ambitions, they are interested.
Plenty of discussions
“I attend quite a few takeover discussions in the Netherlands”, Steven Brouckaert continues. “The firms with which we strike up a dialogue are triggered by the success of PIA Group in Belgium. Often this is the deciding factor to enter into negotiations. They also see that we practice what we preach. As a result I am very optimistic about the future growth potential of PIA Group the Netherlands. A lot of discussions are currently ongoing, several of which we hope to conclude in the near future.”
This is just the beginning for PIA Group
“When we launched PIA Group in the Netherlands we made no secret of our ambitions”, Ewout Brouwers adds. “Today’s announcement is the first actual proof that we will be able to realise them. In Belgium PIA Group has already grown into a leading player in the middle segment. In the Netherlands it is our ambition to also develop into a market leader in the short term.”
With the support of Baltisse
For its further expansion PIA Group the Netherlands can also rely on the support of Baltisse, the family office of entrepreneur Filip Balcaen. Investment Manager Benjamin Biesmans: “In terms of scale, PIA Group the Netherlands is growing up to a point where we can make a genuine difference in accountancy for Dutch SMEs. Quality is central in this regard. That is why not only the buy, but also the build aspect will rank high on our list of priorities in the coming months. We invest generously in people and support services. In Belgium, PIA Group has leveraged its unique business model to attract the most successful, enterprising accountancy firms. With ESJ, Cooster and naturally also Brouwers, it is now clear that PIA Group is able to bring together the regional leaders in the Netherlands as well!”
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Elke Klaassen appointed new COO PIA Group the Netherlands
Together with 2 new member firms, PIA Group the Netherlands is also pleased to welcome Elke Klaassen who joined the group as the new COO on September 1st.
Elke has generous end-to-end experience in operations, with data and digitalisation as a recurring theme - or in her own words: “How we can do things smarter is the starting point with every new challenge I take on.” Her career has seen her work for the likes of The Boston Consulting Group, the Lemann Foundation in Brazil, and Flexport, a digital disruptor in the logistics industry. There she was in charge of SME Europe, constantly looking to identify economies of scale that would benefit all the company’s clients.
“In that regard my move to PIA dovetails perfectly with my previous experience”, says Elke. “SMEs are the primary target group here as well. And the centralised support of local entrepreneurship offers a host of opportunities, such as for digitalisation, quality policy and recruitment. I am very much looking forward to this new challenge. I am convinced we have all the necessary assets to build a leading market position within the SME segment in the short term, just like in Belgium. Collaboration is the key to success in this growing partnership and that is central to my approach. I am looking forward to contributing to the expansion of PIA Group the Netherlands with Ewout Brouwers and the rest of the team.”
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About PIA Group
In a market of scale-ups PIA Group aims to develop into a leading player in accountancy and advisory services while preserving the personal connection between employee and customer. That is why our growth is based on a continuously expanding network of enterprising partners. Thanks to the mutual interaction between these partners and our teams of experts, entrepreneurs and private individuals will find an individual up-to-date service in every PIA branch, as well as know-how that makes a genuine contribution to their professional success and personal happiness. PIA Group was founded by Steven Brouckaert in 2012. The group is active in Belgium and the Netherlands and boasts nearly 60 branches and over 1.200 employees.
